HARROGATE, Tenn. - After taking a three-point lead in the opening six minutes of play, Anderson University women's basketball was unable to hang on to its slim margin, falling to Lincoln Memorial 63-50 Tuesday evening at B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena.
The South Atlantic Conference loss snaps a six-game winning streak and hands the Trojans their first setback in the conference this season, as they move to 2-1. The loss also breaks a three-game winning streak over the Lady Railsplitters, as AU had not dropped to LMU since the 2011-12 season. Lincoln Memorial moves to 4-1 overall and carries a perfect 3-0 mark in league play.
Redshirt junior Emily Willoughby continues to shine from behind the 3-point line, as she nailed four from long range on the evening, giving her a team-high 12 points, tying her season-high. No other Trojan reached double figures, as junior guard Sierra Simpson and sophomore Katie Davis each scored nine apiece. Freshman Alexis Dillard was one rebound from her career-high totaling 12 on the night after pulling down nine boards in the opening 20 minutes of play.
As a team, the Trojans shot their lowest field goal percentage of the season, shooting 30 percent (18-for-60) from the field, but countered by shooting 36.8 percent from behind the arc (7-for-19).
"LMU is a very good team and this is a tough place to play," Anderson head coach Jimmy Garrity said. "I give them all the credit. We had several opportunities to cut into the lead but we just didn't make many shots or make a play."
After going down early to begin the game, Anderson was able to claw back and take it first lead of the game at the 7-6 mark when Willoughby knocked in her first of four 3-pointers with 14:45 in the opening half. After AU controlled the game for the next four minutes, LMU would take the lead back when forward Samantha Satterlee hit a long-range 3-pointer to make the score 14-12 in favor of the Lady Railsplitters.
Junior Lesley Woods grabbed the lead back for the Trojans at the 4:41 mark when she buried her only 3-pointer of the game, handing AU a 17-16 lead. Despite the momentum swing, LMU countered with a 3-pointer from junior guard Katrina Ottesen to take back the lead.
On the next possession, Davis would tie the game with a jumper, but the Lady Railsplitters went on a 9-4 run to close the half, leading 28-23. The five-point deficit at the half marked just the second time the Trojans have trailed in the opening stanza, as AU faced its largest deficit to begin the final period this season.
LMU started the final half off with a fast start, opening up the final half with a 7-0 run, capped off by another 3-pointer by Ottesen, as she closed the game with three on the night. With the 3-pointer, the Lady Railsplitters would take their largest lead of the game of 12 at the 17:17 mark.
Anderson would eventually try to make a slight comeback, drawing the score within three with 13:47 left when freshman guard Heather Jankowy drained one of two 3-pointers for the game. Despite the Trojan run, Lincoln Memorial was able to hang on to its lead throughout the remainder of the game, grabbing its fourth straight victory on the season, 63-50.
The Lady Railsplitters recorded three players in double digits with Satterlee leading the trio with 14 points in 25 minutes. Junior guard Aisjah Roan, who entered this evening's contest averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game, notched 13, while Ottesen tallied 11. All three players, including Preseason All-SAC Second Team honoree MaRanda Boddie each tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.
AU steps away from SAC play on Saturday when it heads to Division I opponent Furman for a midseason exhibition. Tip-off from Timmons Arena is slated for 2 p.m.
